[Asian Games] Korea Aims to Become the Inaugural Champion in New Breaking Event

Preliminary on the 6th, Medal Finals on the 7th
Men's Kim Heon-woo and Women's Jeon Ji-ye as Title Contenders

The 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games is pursuing diversification through the introduction of new events. Esports and breaking represent this movement. The Korean national team is emerging as a new powerhouse in these two events.

Previously dominating the world league, the esports League of Legends (LoL) team led by ‘Faker’ Lee Sang-hyeok recorded a perfect victory and won the gold medal, becoming the inaugural Asian Games esports LoL champion. Breaking is also making another first-time championship challenge.

The Korean national breaking team participating in the '2022 Hangzhou Asian Games' is cheering and pledging their best performance on the 3rd at Incheon Airport before departing for Hangzhou, China, where the competition will be held. From the left: Coach So Jae-hwan, Trainer Ahn Hyo-eun, players Kim Heon-woo, Kwon Seong-hee, Jeon Ji-ye, Kim Hong-yeol, and Director Jeong Hyeong-sik.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Breaking will begin the round of 16 group stage on the 6th at the Hangzhou Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium, with the quarterfinals and finals taking place from the 7th.

Breaking, held on an 8m by 8m square stage, features two dancers from each team competing. They showcase dance skills to music randomly played by a DJ, and the winner is determined by judges’ evaluation. There are no team events; gold medalists are decided separately in the men’s and women’s individual events.

Breaking is a type of street hip-hop dance that originated in New York, USA, in the 1970s, commonly known to us as ‘B-boying.’ It derives its name from dancing to the break down part of the music, where only the beat plays without instruments. It requires a combination of various high-level techniques and artistic expression. Breaking, which was first adopted as an official event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was subsequently selected as an official event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, marking its first competition in an international sports event.

The composition of breaking moves is broadly divided into four categories: ▲Toprock, the preparatory moves performed standing to the rhythm of the music before or between technical moves; ▲Downrock, moves performed on the floor using hands, feet, upper body, and lower body; ▲Power moves, the core of breaking involving centrifugal spinning; and ▲Freeze, a technique where the dancer stops in a specific pose during a move. In competitions, dancers must perform all these techniques while also showcasing their originality and artistic harmony with the music.

Director Jeong Hyeong-sik of the Korean national breaking team, participating in the '2022 Hangzhou Asian Games,' is answering reporters' questions as he departs from Incheon Airport to Hangzhou, China, where the competition will be held, on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Korea is considered a powerhouse in breaking. Kim Heon-woo, who won the 2023 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championship in August, and Jeon Ji-ye, who won bronze at the 2023 WDSF International Series, will wear the Taegeuk mark and challenge for their first gold medals.

Jung Hyung-sik, head coach of the breaking national team, said, "We are well aware that Korean breaking athletes have achieved excellent results in world competitions, raising the expectations of the public. We have prepared diligently throughout the process, but since sports speak through results, we will bring good outcomes."

The breaking champion at the Hangzhou Asian Games will qualify directly for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Additionally, athletes who finish second in each category will also be given the opportunity to participate in the Paris Olympic qualifiers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.